Hankook and the Audi Sport Seyffarth R8 LMS Cup make their debut together at the Hockenheimring

The Audi Sport Seyffarth R8 LMS Cup makes its debut in Hockenheim this weekend. As part of the DTM race weekend, the iconic circuit near Heidelberg hosts the opening two rounds of the new one-make cup, which comprises twelve races in total and shares the bill with what is probably the most popular international touring car series. Up to 20 Audi R8 LMS will take their place on the grid in the GT4 series: At the wheel of the 495-hp, 1450-kilogram cars are a mixture of professionals, juniors and gentlemen drivers. The head of the series, Rüdiger Seyffarth, and his team have developed the new format within just four months. Premium tyre maker Hankook supplies the Audi Sport Seyffarth R8 LMS Cup with the Ventus Race tyre and supports the series with its technical expertise.

Hockenheim/Germany, 6^th May 2018 – Rüdiger Seyffarth has been involved in motorsport for 45 years, during which time he has enjoyed success as both a driver and a team principal. “We had top people like Formula 1 drivers Karl Wendlinger and Karun Chandhok, and won a lot of races in the Porsche Carrera Cup, the Super Cup and the Blancpain Endurance Series. However, from an organisational and team point of view, we have moved up into the champions league with the Audi Sport Seyffarth R8 LMS Cup. It is incredible to be able to start in the remarkable DTM environment. The first time our cars took to the track in Hockenheim, even I, an old hand, had goosebumps,” the team principal revealed.

Held on the support programme for the DTM, the Audi Sport Seyffarth R8 LMS Cup consists of six weekends, each featuring two qualifying sessions and two races. Twelve Audi R8 LMS will line up at the Hockenheimring. Seyffarth is keen to increase the size of the field to 20 cars at coming events. “We have professionals, juniors and gentlemen drivers at the wheel of our cars. Some of them still have to obtain the international licence they need to start, then we will be up to full strength.”

Seyffarth has been cooperating with Hankook for years. His son Jan has taken part in multiple tyre tests for the premium tyre maker. As such, the Ventus Race is the ideal partner for the team principal. “The Hankook race tyre is very durable and has a large optimal temperature window. Our drivers can rely entirely on the Ventus Race and focus on the race. As far as we are concerned, the Hankook tyre is unbeatable.”

Seyffarth also supports the drivers starting out in the series in his role as instructor. All driving data is analysed: steering, braking and acceleration – nothing gets past the motor racing specialist with his vast wealth of experience. “The drivers can learn a lot and earn their spurs in our new one-make cup. The Audi Sport Seyffarth R8 LMS Cup is the perfect introduction to motor racing. Together with Hankook, I want to offer the drivers the best support possible as they strive to make a career in motorsport.”

Om Hankook Tire

Hankook tillverkar innovativa och prisbelönta däck av högsta kvalitet inom premiumsegmentet för personbilar, SUV:ar, terrängbilar, lätta lastbilar, husbilar, lastbilar, bussar samt motorsport (tävling på banor och sträckor bantävlingar/rallytävlingar).

Företaget investerar löpande i forskning och utveckling för att alltid kunna erbjuda kunderna högsta kvalitet i kombination med den senaste teknologin. Vid företagets fem utvecklingscentra och åtta fabriker världen över utvecklas och produceras däcklösningar, som är speciellt anpassade för de regionala marknadernas krav och behov. I Europa sker däckutvecklingen för lokala marknader samt leverans av originalutrustning till ledande europeiska fordonstillverkare vid Hankooks teknikcentrum i Hannover, Tyskland. Tillverkning sker bland annat i den toppmoderna Europa-fabriken i Rácalmás, Ungern, som invigdes år 2007 och som byggs ut löpande.

Hankooks Europa- och Tysklands-säte ligger i Neu-Isenburg i närheten av Frankfurt am Main. Tillverkaren har ytterligare filialer i flera europeiska länder och säljer sina produkter genom regionala distributörer på andra lokala marknader. Idag har företaget cirka 20 000 anställda och levererar sina produkter till drygt 160 länder. Företaget har valts ut som teknologisk partner och exklusiv däckleverantör till Generation 3 för FIA ABB Formula E World Championship, med start år 2023. Ledande fordonstillverkare förlitar sig på Hankook som originalutrustningsleverantör av däck. Runt 38 % av den globala omsättningen hänför sig till Europa. Hankook Tire uppmärksammades av Dow Jones Sustainability Korea Index (DJSI) redan år 2011 och har sedan år 2016 representerats i Dow Jones Sustainability World Index (DJSI World).

Mer information återfinns på www.hankooktire-mediacenter.com eller www.hankooktire.com

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